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| The Great, Grey-Green, Greasy Limpopo River near its exit into the Indian Ocean |
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| Denise negotiating another dicey bridge |
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| A really rickety bridge over part of the LImpopo flood plain |
The intended early start was slightly delayed. Perhaps
everyone was reluctant to start the trip back into South Africa, even the car’s
compass told us we were going North instead of South.
We have been warned of several speed traps by John of Casa
John one he says does not indicate where the lower speed limit changes to the
National speed limit of 100kmph after passing through a village some 20 minutes
the North side of Xai Xai you are well away from all pedestrians and you think
you are OK and the Police are always there, have to confess we did not see this
trap that smacks of the Tanzania police speed trapping strategy, perhaps we
were lucky, but I am pleased to say we had no problem with the Mozambique
police or army, we were not asked for our “Tringles” (Warning Triangles),
safety vests, or any of the other paraphernalia not that I am against it one
should have the right safety equipment, but it is ironic that nearly every
Mozambique vehicle when they breakdown or have an accident just cut down some
trees and strew them up the road in both directions, which is quite effective
and is used throughout East, Central and Southern African Countries so an axe
should be a compulsory safety accessory.
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| Suspension Bridge over the Limpopo River |
We cross the Limpopo
River one day short of our first day
of our 8 week journey when we crossed it at Martins Drift/Groblers Bridge and stayed
at Kwa Nogeng alongside that river in Botswana , it really does not feel
like 8 weeks, time has flown by.
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| Attention Cashew Nut Buyers |
We then see a whole lot of Africa’s national flags flying
(plastic bags) in the trees and are a little puzzled then realise that it is
just to draw your attention to the Cashew Nuts for sale, we have to stop and
start another round of negotiations to get the best price for the roasted
cashew nuts, we end up stopping twice when we find out how delicious they are
and I might add very “moreish”
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| I think this vehicle had between 30 and 40 people on board just outside Maputu |
We make good time and it looked like we would be at the
Border by midday, how foolish and Maputu the Mozambique capital upholds the
African cities reputation for being chaotic and you do not even go into the
capital, you circumvent and go through their industrial area.
We ultimately get to the border around 03h00pm and it turns
out to be one of our quickest crossings were it not for me needing to get my
carnet de passage stamped and signed by customs on the SA side, it seemed that
they only had one person who knew what to do so from under 40 minutes it
eventually took us one hour and fifteen minutes.
There are masses of trucks hauling coal into Maputu and the
road is very busy from Komatipoort to Nelspruit added to which you have a
couple of one way sections due to road works, but we are lucky and do not
suffer the average 20 minute wait.
We book into the Road Lodge and arrive there at 05h00pm a
10hour journey to do 694kms, which is a good average speed compared with the
rest of our safari. We freshen up and have dinner at “The Stoep” restaurant and
I can tell you we could have eaten hippo we were so hungry.
Once again Sinead has been a little gem, but I think Claudia
is going to have some difficulty in getting her back into a hum drum routine,
she will probably have to find a 4x4 track nearby to get her lulled off to
sleep, let alone all her other exciting distractions she is used to.
Tomorrow is our last day and we are already thinking of
planning our next trip into the unknown, watch this space.
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